Jewellery industry and smuggled gold

The jewellery business in Bangladesh has reportedly been thriving despite there being no import of gold into the country through legal channels, in the last three decades. How is this possible? Are we to believe that the relevant authorities and tax officials did not know about this?

This recent revelation has only come under the public purview because of a high profile case involving the son of the owner of a jewellery store. Had that not been the case, things would have likely to have continued as they were. What this shows is that law enforcers are reactive rather than proactive in busting criminals. Consequently, it also further confirms what industry insiders and various government officials have been saying: that powerful individuals and syndicates are mostly responsible for the large scale gold smuggling. These powerful individuals are reportedly quite influential.

In spite of the hauls made at various entry points into Bangladesh, huge quantities of gold are smuggled in every year. And alarmingly, gold smuggling is often closely associated with drugs smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering and other serious crimes.

Law enforcers must stop shying away from bringing to justice people who are involved and yet get away with it simply because of their political clout or influential connections. It is time the authorities went after the criminals without fear or favour.